Letter: Problems, solutions are bipartisan

In his letter, "Quote warning for Americans," the writer expresses extreme puzzlement that "anyone could intellectually conclude that the current administration should be re-elected." He finally found a quote that he thought "explains everything." The main point was that a democracy can exist until voters begin voting for candidates promising them the most government money, then loose fiscal policies become established, to be followed by a dictatorship. He tells those who voted for President Barack Obama to enjoy it while they can.

Like other one-sided letters about politics (our side versus yours), the writer made his point but did not prove his case. His failure was two-fold. First, he offered carefully selected information that supposedly faults the other party for ruining the country. Second, he failed to acknowledge his party's contribution to and participation in action that also contributed to this ruination. Such letters encourage more political bickering and division. Is this good citizenship and patriotism?

Nevertheless, the writer makes a valid point, and the quotation is appropriate. More than half of the U.S. budget now goes to welfare in one form or another. But this problem has been evolving over about five decades through the administrations of both Republican and Democratic presidencies. Has the writer not noticed?

An example of the issue that the writer addresses was demonstrated recently in Congress. The bipartisan Simpson-Bowles responsibility and reform plan was denounced by most of the Republican and Democratic Congress — along with Obama — for the same reasons: their favorite constituencies would lose too much funding.

Writing one-sided political letters accomplishes one-sided purposes. Surely, writers are free to write for the purpose they choose, but if they really want to contribute to our nation's well-being, they should acknowledge their party's contributing flaws and offer bipartisan solutions.